Native
Common names: lesser apple worm
FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
: 4.0-5.5 mm
Forewing pattern is distinctive with pale-yellow costal strigulaecostal strigulae:
small, usually pale, semirectangular marks along the costa 
, silvery striae, a line of yellow scales preceeding the black terminal line, and a well-developed ocellusocellus:
forewing pattern element - an ovoid region anterior to the tornus; adult head - a simple insect "eye" located dorsal to the compound eye 
with 3-4 black dashes. Males lack a forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales
. The hindwing is dark brown, but lighter basally.
Male genitalia are characterized by the absence of an uncusuncus:
a sclerotized process which is fused to the posterodorsal margin of tergum IX
and valvavalva:
an appendage flanking the intromittent organ that is used to clasp the female during copulation
with an angular apexapex:
the point furthest removed from the base or at the end of the costal area 
and evenly rounded anal angleanal angle:
on the hind wing, the angle nearest the end of the abdomen when the wings are expanded 
of the cuculluscucullus:
the distal portion of the male valva
. Female genitalia are characterized by a ringlike sterigmasterigma:
the sclerotized region surrounding the female ostium bursae 
with weakly sclerotizedsclerotized:
hardened; usually in reference to larval structures or adult genitalia 
laterallateral:
to the side
extensions and two, long, slender, thorn-like signasignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
in the corpus bursaecorpus bursae:
a dilated membranous sac at the anterior end of the bursa copulatrix
.
The following account is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..
Mature larva approximately 7.5-9.5 mm in length; width of head 0.7-0.8 mm; head yellowish brown with darker mottling; prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax 
and anal shieldanal shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the last abdominal segment (in larvae) 
brown, the prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax may have some dark posterolateralposterolateral:
towards the rear and side; posterior and lateral 
markings; body pale reddish, pinaculapinaculum:
flattened sclerotized plates on a caterpillar that bear the setae
moderately large; anal fork present with 4-6 teeth.
Larval chaeototaxy is described, but not figured in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..
This is one of the smallest North American tortricids. Fresh specimens are unlikely to be confused with any other species; worn specimens can be dissected to confirm identity.
Larvae may appear similar to those of many other species of Aspila, Grapholita and Cydia. Cydia pomonella larvae can be separated from A. prunivora by the absence of an anal fork and their larger size. Larvae of Aspila molesta are similar but generally larger. Larvae of A. packardi and A. prunivora are very similar, although the pinaculapinaculum:
flattened sclerotized plates on a caterpillar that bear the setae on the 8th and 9th abdominal segment are more prominent in A. packardi, and the abdomen of A. prunivora is more reddish, especially in preserved specimens.
The following account is summarized from Chapman & Lienk (1971) and Weires & Riedel (1991).
Aspila prunivora completes two annual generations over much of its range. Adults are present in May to June and again in August.
Females lay eggs singly on young fruits or on the upper surface of leaves. Larvae tunnel into the fruit at the calyx end and feed inside. In apple, larvae may feed directly under the skin of the fruit, creating a blotchy mine. Overwintering occurs as a mature larva and pupation occurs in the spring.
In addition to feeding on various stone-fruits, larvae of A. prunivora have also been recorded feeding inside galls.
| Host plant | Host plant family | Reference(s) |
| gall | Galls | MacKay 1959MacKay 1959: MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338. |
| Amelanchier sp. | Rosaceae | Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926: Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; MacKay 1959MacKay 1959: MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338. |
| Crataegus sp. | Rosaceae | Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926: Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; MacKay 1959MacKay 1959: MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.; Chapman & Lienk 1971 |
| Malus sp. | Rosaceae | Heinirch 1926 |
| Photinia sp. | Rosaceae | Chyapman & Lienk 1971 |
| Prunus pensylvanica | Rosaceae | Prentice 1966Prentice 1966: Prentice, R. M. 1966. Vol. 4. Microlepidoptera. In : Forest Lepidoptera of Canada recorded by the Forest Insect Survey. Dept. For. Canada Publ. 1142: 543-840. |
| Prunus persica | Rosaceae | Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926: Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216. |
| Prunus salicina | Rosaceae | Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926: Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216. |
| Prunus sp. | Rosaceae | Heinrich 1926Heinrich 1926: Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216.; MacKay 1959MacKay 1959: MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.; Chapman & Lienk 1971 |
| Pyrus communis | Rosaceae | MacKay 1959MacKay 1959: MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338.; Chapman & Lienk 1971 |
View full screen host table here
Aspila prunivora is found throughout southern Canada and the continental United States, but is more common in the east. It is noticeably absent from Florida.
Fig. 5: P. J. Chapman, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Bugwood.org
